Fister pounded by Tampa Bay offense as Tigers suffer 11-5 loss

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAKELAND, Fla. — Luke Scott didn't have the breakout season he was looking for last year when he joined the Tampa Bay Rays.

He hit .229 with 14 homers — not what anyone was looking for in Tampa Bay's floundering offense. He was back on the free agent market at the end of the season, but he decided to take Tampa Bay's best offer and give it one more shot with the Rays.

Scott hit a grand slam off Tigers starter Doug Fister to lead the Rays to an 11-5 win today, raising his spring batting average to .375.

Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson got roughed up a bit, allowing three earned runs in six innings in his second official start of the spring.

Fister saw his earned run average rise to 7.36 after allowing seven runs — two earned — in 3 2-3 innings. He also walked three and allowed the grand slam to Scott.

Fister, who went 10-10 with a 3.45 earned run average last year, said he isn't too concerned with at least two spring starts remaining.

"My control isn't there yet," Fister said. "I need to regain some consistency. I am troubleshooting it. I know I can work it all out. I am not happy with the way things have been going, but I just have to learn from every outing like this one."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said that Fister wasn't a concern yet, but that some adjustments need to be made.

"His delivery and his release point has been all out of whack," Leyland said. "He'll get it fixed."

Devon Travis homered for the Tigers, and Austin Jackson and Jhonny Peralta each had two hits. Torii Hunter had two hits and a triple.

Tigers left fielder Andy Dirks suffered a contusion to his right knee after running into the outfield wall chasing double by Jack Cust.

Dirks said he is day-to-day. His competition for the starting left field position, Quintin Berry is also day-to-day with patellar tendonitis in his left knee. Leyland said he's not going to panic over the injury to Dirks. Brennan Boesch was also in the mix for the left fielder job, but he was released last week and signed with the Yankees.

"Dirks isn't a concern, but I learned a long time ago to never take anything lightly," Leyland said. "I am not going to concern myself but I just don't know right now. It's day to day."

NOTES: Detroit RHP Rick Porcello will start in a minor league game today against a minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros. ... The Tigers cut their roster by eight players: RHP Jorge Ortega, LHP Duane Below, C Bryan Holaday were sent to Triple-A Toledo; IF Hernan Perez to Double A Erie; and RHP Trevor Bell, IF Argenis Diaz, OF Nick Castellanos, and OF Tyler Collins were sent to minor league camp.

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